Bicycle frame and method of converting to electronic shifting system

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods of converting a bicycle frame from a mechanical gear-shifting configuration to an electronic gear-shifting configuration and vice versa. In a representative embodiment, a method of converting a bicycle frame from a mechanical gear-shifting configuration to an electronic gear-shifting configuration comprises removing a mechanical cable extending between a mechanical gear-shift actuator and a mechanical gear shifter via a cable stop of a removable bracket member secured to a down tube member of the bicycle frame, and removing the removable bracket member from the down tube member of the bicycle frame. The method further comprises mounting an electronically-actuated gear shifter to the bicycle frame in electrical communication with an electronic gear-shift actuator such that actuation of the electronic gear-shift actuator causes the electronically-actuated gear shifter to shift gears.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/623,355, filed Feb. 16, 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to bicycle frames and, more particularly, tobicycle frames that can be converted between a mechanical gear-shiftingconfiguration and an electronic gear-shifting configuration.

BACKGROUND

Generally, bicycle frames are designed to be set up with either anelectronic gear-shifting system, in which an electronic signal generatedby an electronic gear-shift actuator is transmitted to an electronicgear shifter to effect gear changes, or a mechanical gear-shiftingsystem, in which force is transmitted from a mechanical gear-shiftactuator to a mechanical gear shifter by a traditional Bowden cable toeffect gear changes. Electronic gear-shifting systems can be preferable,for example, in bicycle racing, in which increased responsiveness andfast gear changes are advantageous. Conversely, mechanical gear-shiftingsystems can be preferable, for example, when riding for long periods oftime during which a battery for an electronic gear-shifting systemcannot be easily replaced or recharged, or when riding in a locationwhere service and/or replacement parts for sophisticated electronicgear-shifting systems are not available in the event of a componentfailure. However, bicycle frames designed to accept an electronicgear-shifting system cannot be easily converted to a mechanicalgear-shifting system, and vice versa. Accordingly, improvements tobicycle frames are desirable.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments of the disclosure concern devices and methods forconverting a bicycle frame from a mechanical gear-shifting configurationto an electronic gear-shifting configuration. In a representativeembodiment, a method of converting a bicycle frame from a mechanicalgear-shifting configuration to an electronic gear-shifting configurationcomprises removing a mechanical cable extending between a mechanicalgear-shift actuator and a mechanical gear shifter via a cable stop of aremovable bracket member secured to a down tube member of the bicycleframe, and removing the removable bracket member from the down tubemember of the bicycle frame. The method further comprises mounting anelectronically-actuated gear shifter to the bicycle frame in electricalcommunication with an electronic gear-shift actuator such that actuationof the electronic gear-shift actuator causes the electronically-actuatedgear shifter to shift gears.

In another representative embodiment, an assembly comprises a bicycleframe including a down tube member defining an opening therein, athreaded sleeve received in the opening of the down tube member, and amechanical gear-shift actuator coupled to the frame. The assemblyfurther comprises a mechanically-actuated gear shifter coupled to theframe, and a removable bracket member including an arcuate main portiondefining an opening and including at least one cable stop. The removablebracket member is secured to the down tube member by a fastenerextending through the opening defined in the main portion of theremovable bracket member and into the threaded sleeve in the down tubemember. The assembly further comprises a mechanical cable extendingbetween the mechanical gear-shift actuator and the mechanically-actuatedgear shifter via the cable stop of the removable bracket member.

In another representative embodiment, a kit for converting a bicycleframe between a mechanical gear-shifting configuration and an electronicgear-shifting configuration comprises a removable bracket membersecurable to a down tube member of the bicycle frame. The removablebracket member includes at least one cable stop to receive a mechanicalcable for actuating a mechanically-actuated gear shifter. The kitfurther comprises a wire guide member securable adjacent a rear dropoutof the bicycle frame and including an upper portion and a lower portion.The lower portion is configured to guide an electronic wire from therear dropout to an electronically-actuated gear shifter.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a bicycle including a bicycle frame convertiblebetween a mechanical gear-shifting configuration and an electronicgear-shifting configuration, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a front end of the bicycle ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a representative embodiment of a removable bracketmember secured to a down tube member of the bicycle frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a fastener and threaded sleevefor securing a removable bracket member to a tube member of a bicycleframe.

FIG. 5 illustrates a representative embodiment of a wire guide member.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a rear dropout of the bicycleframe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates the electrical wires of an electronic gear-shiftingsystem entering an opening in the down tube member of the bicycle frameof FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a representative methodof converting a bicycle frame from a mechanical gear-shiftingconfiguration to an electronic gear-shifting configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary bicycle 100 including a frame 102,wheels 104, 105, and drop-style handlebars 106, as are commonly usedwith road or cyclocross style bicycles. It will be understood that thecomponents of the system described herein can be mounted in any suitablearrangement, and that the controls are preferably mounted on thehandlebar, or anywhere that they can be reached by a user. In theillustrated embodiment, the bicycle 100 can comprise a mechanicalgear-shifting system 108 including a pair of mechanical gear-shiftactuators 110, 112 mounted to the handlebar 106 (see FIG. 2). In theillustrated embodiment, the gear-shift actuators 110, 112 are shownconfigured as integrated brake/shift levers, but can be configured asbar-end shifters, down tube shifters, etc., as desired. The mechanicalgear-shift actuators can be coupled to respective front and rearmechanical gear shifters 114, 116 associated with front and rearsprockets 118, 120, respectively.

Mechanical cable assemblies including internal cables 122, 124 disposedin respective housings 126, 128 can extend between the gear-shiftactuators 110, 112 and the respective front and rear gear shifters 114,116. The cables 122, 124 can transmit motion of the gear-shift actuators110, 112 caused by actuation of the gear shift actuators by a user tothe gear shifters 114, 116 to effect gear shift events. As used herein,the terms “mechanical cable,” “Bowden cable,” and “cable” refer to ametal inner cable at least partially contained in a housing andconfigured to transmit force along the cable from one component toanother coupled at opposite ends of the cable (e.g., from a mechanicalgear-shift actuator to a mechanically-actuated gear shifter to effectgear changes).

The mechanical cables 122, 124 can extend along the exterior of theframe 102 from the gear-shift actuators 110, 112 to the respective gearshifters 114, 116 configured as front and rear derailleurs. Morespecifically, the cables 122, 124 can extend along a down tube member130 of the frame via a removable bracket member 132 including an arcuateor curved main body or main portion 133 and two integrally formed cablestops 134, 136 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4). The cable stops 134, 136 canbe configured to receive respective end portions of the cable housings126, 128, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As used herein, the term“cable stop” refers to a structure configured to receive an end of amechanical cable housing such that when actuated, the inner cable canmove freely through the housing (and the cable stop) while movement ofthe housing is restrained by the cable stop. However, in alternativeembodiments, the removable bracket member 132 can include any suitablenumber of cable stops, such as a single cable stop for configurations inwhich the bicycle frame includes only a front or rear derailleur. Infurther alternative embodiments, the cable stops 134, 136 can beseparately formed and secured to the removable bracket member.

The bracket member 132 can be securable to the frame 102 by, forexample, a threaded fastener 138 insertable through an opening 140defined in the bracket member 132 into a threaded sleeve 142 configuredas a rivet nut, as shown in FIG. 4. Threaded sleeve 142, in turn, can bereceived in a pre-formed opening 144 in the down tube member 130 of theframe 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the removable bracket member132 can be secured to the underside of the down tube member 130 suchthat the cables, housings, and cable stops are disposed on the undersideof the down tube member 130 and out of the way of a user's legs.However, in alternative embodiments, the removable bracket member 132can be disposed anywhere on the circumference of the down tube member130, as desired. In further alternative embodiments, the opening 144 inthe down tube member 130 can be threaded to receive the fastener 138. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the opening 140 is defined at an apex 135 ofthe curved main body 133 of the bracket member 132.

The main portion 133 of the removable bracket member 132 can have adiameter that is smaller than the diameter of the down tube member 130such that the ends of the removable bracket member 132 deform radiallyoutwardly when placed on the down tube member 130 to aid in retaining iton the down tube. The removable bracket member 132 can be made from avariety of materials, including any of various metals, plastics, orreinforced fibers, such as carbon fiber. In some embodiments, the mainportion 133 and the cable stops 134, 136 can comprise the same material,or different materials, as desired. In alternative embodiments, theremovable bracket member 132 can be secured to the down tube member 130with more than one fastener, such as with one fastener at each end ofthe removable bracket member, or by any other suitable fixation method.In some embodiments, movement of the removable bracket member 132 can berestrained by one or more ridges and/or recesses defined by the downtube member 130 in which the removable bracket member 132 can bedisposed.

Various methods by which the bicycle frame 102 may be set up in amechanical gear-shifting configuration or an electronic gear-shiftingconfiguration, and converted from one to the other will now bedescribed. To set up the bicycle frame 102 in a mechanical gear-shiftingconfiguration, the removable bracket member 132 can be secured to thedown tube member 130 of the frame 102, and the mechanical gear-shiftactuators 110, 112 and mechanically-actuated gear shifters 114, 116, ofthe mechanical gear shifting system 108 can be secured to the handlebars and the frame, respectively. The ends of the cables 122, 124 canthen be secured to the respective gear-shift actuators 110, 112 and gearshifters 114, 116, and the cables 122, 124 can be positioned such thatthe housings 126, 128 are received in the respective cable stops 134,136 of the removable bracket member 132. The cables can then betensioned appropriately.

To set up the bicycle frame 102 in an electronic gear-shiftingconfiguration, an electronic gear-shifting system 146 includingelectronic gear-shift actuators 148, 150 in electrical communicationwith electronically-actuated gear shifters 152, 154 via a combinedbattery and control unit 160 can be secured to the frame, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Example electronic gear-shifting systems include the Di2®electronic shifting system available from Shimano, Inc., or theEPS—Electronic Power Shift® electronic shifting system available fromCampagnolo, S.R.L.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, electrical wires 156, 158 (indicated inphantom) can extend from the electronic gear-shift actuators 148, 150along the down tube member 130, and can enter the down tube member 130through the opening 140 (see also FIG. 7). The electrical wires 156, 158can be configured to transmit electronic shift signals from theelectronic gear-shift actuators 148, 150 to the electronically-actuatedgear shifters 152, 154 via the control unit 160 to effect gear changes.In the illustrated embodiment, the wires 156, 158 extend inside the downtube member 130 to the control unit 160, which is shown located insidethe down tube member near the bottom bracket housing 162. It should beunderstood, however, that the control unit 160 can be mounted at anysuitable location on or inside the frame 102, such as on or inside thedown tube member 130, on or inside the seat tube or member 164, on thehandlebars 106, etc. Additionally, in alternative embodiments the wires156, 158 can enter the frame at any suitable location, such as throughthe head tube 166, as desired.

Electrical wires 168, 170 corresponding to the wires 156, 158 can extendfrom the control unit 160 to the respective front and rearelectronically-actuated gear shifters 152, 154. In the illustratedembodiment, the wires 168, 170 can extend from the down tube member 130into the bottom bracket housing 162. The wire 168 can then extend intothe seat tube member 164 and emerge through a pre-formed opening (notshown) in the seat tube, whereby it can be coupled to theelectronically-actuated gear shifter 152 associated with the frontsprocket 118. Meanwhile, the wire 170 can extend from the bottom brackethousing 162 through a chain stay tube member 174, and can emergeadjacent a rear dropout 176 of the frame from an opening 178 defined inthe end of the chain stay tube member 174, as shown in FIG. 6. As usedherein, the term “rear dropout” refers to a member coupled at theconvergence of a seat stay tube member and a chain stay tube member of abicycle frame that is configured to receive an axle of a wheel hub. Atypical bicycle frame includes two rear dropouts laterally spaced apartfrom one another at the rear of the bicycle frame and configured toreceive respective ends of an axle of a wheel hub.

The wire 170 can be retained in and guided along a contour of the reardropout 176 to the electronically-actuated gear shifter 154 by a wireguide member 180. Referring to FIG. 5, the wire guide member 180 caninclude an upper portion 182 and a lower portion 184, and the upperportion 182 can be received in an opening 186 defined in a seat staytube member 188 of the bicycle frame (see FIG. 6). In the illustratedembodiment, the upper portion 182 can have a diameter that is largerthan a diameter of the opening 186, and can define a recess or channel181 such that the upper portion 182 is divided into two spaced-apartprojections 183, 185. In this manner, the projections 183, 185 can beforced toward one another or “pinched” together when inserted into theopening 186 of the seat stay tube member 188 to aid in retaining thewire guide member 180 in the seat stay tube. The lower portion 184 candefine an arcuate channel or recess 190 to receive the wire 170 andguide the wire around the rear dropout 176 to the electronicallyactuated gear shifter 154 such that the wire does not become entangledwith the axle or spokes of the wheel 104. In this regard, the wire guidemember 180 can be advantageous because the wire 170 is especially proneto snagging or entangling in the area adjacent the rear dropout 176where the wire 170 emerges from the chain stay tube member 174. Inparticular embodiments, the wire guide member 180 can comprise, forexample, any of various metals, plastics, or reinforced fibers, such ascarbon fiber.

To convert the bicycle frame 102 from a mechanical gear-shiftingconfiguration to an electronic gear-shifting configuration, themechanical gear-shift actuators, cables, and mechanically-actuated gearshifters of the mechanical gear shifting system 108 can be removed fromthe frame. The removable bracket member 132 and associated hardware canthen be removed from the down tube member 130. The electronic gear-shiftactuators 148, 150 and electronically-actuated gear shifters 152, 154can then be secured to the handlebars 106 and frame 102, respectively.The control unit 160 can be positioned inside the down tube member 130,and the wires 156, 158 can be inserted into the down tube through theopening 144 such that they extend between the control unit 160 and theelectronic gear-shift actuators 148, 150. The wire 168 can be routedfrom the control unit 160, through the seat tube member 164, and throughan opening in the seat tube member, where it can be coupled to theelectronically-actuated gear shifter 152.

The wire guide member 180 can be positioned adjacent the rear dropout176 by inserting the upper portion 182 into the opening 186 of the seatstay tube 188. The wire 170 can be positioned such that it extends fromthe control unit 160 around the inside diameter of the bottom brackethousing 162, through the chain stay tube member 174, and emerges fromthe opening 178. The wire 170 can be situated in the arcuate recess 190of the wire guide member 180 such that the wire substantially followsthe contour of the rear dropout 176 and is coupled to theelectronically-actuated gear shifter 154. In alternative embodiments,the wire guide member 180 can be received in the opening 178 of thechain stay tube member 174, and can be configured to allow theelectrical wire 170 to extend axially through the wire guide member tothe electronically-actuated gear shifter 154. The bicycle frame can beconverted from an electronic gear-shifting configuration to a mechanicalgear-shifting configuration by reversing the above steps.

In some embodiments, the bicycle frame 102 can comprise any of variousmetals, including, for example, steel, stainless steel, titanium, and/oraluminum or aluminum alloys, any of various composite materials such ascarbon fiber or blended titanium and carbon fiber, natural materialssuch as wood or bamboo, or any combination thereof. The bicycle frameconfigurations, devices, and methods described herein can be especiallyuseful in combination with composite and/or metal frames, in which therequisite openings can be pre-formed when the frame is made. This canreduce the need to form openings in the tube members of a pre-existingframe, which can weaken the structural integrity of the frame.Additionally, it should be understood that the bicycle frame can beconfigured as a road bike style frame, a mountain bike style frame, atouring bike style frame, a cargo bike style frame, a cyclocross styleframe, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the bicycle frames and methods described herein canbe used in combination with a wireless electronic shifting system inwhich the electronic gear-shift actuators and electronically-actuatedgear shifters are not physically linked to one another by electricalwires, but are in electrical communication via one or more radiofrequency transceivers associated with the respective electronicgear-shift actuators and the electronically-actuated gear shifters.

The bicycle frame embodiments and methods described herein can providesignificant advantages over known bicycle frames. Known bicycle framesare often configured exclusively for use with either electronicgear-shifting systems or mechanical gear-shifting systems, and can onlybe converted from one to the other with extensive modification, if atall. For example, bicycle frames configured for use with mechanicalgear-shifting systems often lack the openings in the frame tubesrequired for internal routing of electrical wires through portions ofthe frame, while frames configured for use with mechanical gear-shiftingsystems lack suitable mechanisms (e.g., cable stops) for securingmechanical cables and housing to the exterior of the frame. Thus, toenjoy the respective benefits of electronic and mechanical gear-shiftingsystems, a user must frequently have a bicycle frame dedicated to eachconfiguration, at considerable expense.

The frame embodiments and methods described herein can allow a user toconfigure the same bicycle frame for use with either an electronicgear-shifting system or a mechanical gear-shifting system, and toconvert between electronic and mechanical gear-shifting configurationsat will. This can allow a user to ride the bicycle frame in anelectronic gear-shifting configuration in, for example, bicycle racingapplications, where the relatively faster gear change capabilities of anelectronic gear-shifting system are advantageous. Alternatively, if theuser wishes to ride the same bicycle frame, for example, on extendedrides, where recharging or replacement of a battery for an electronicgear-shifting system is not practicable, or in areas where parts orservice for sophisticated electronic shifting systems may not beavailable in the event of a component failure, the bicycle frame can beeasily converted to a mechanical gear-shifting configuration.

In some embodiments, the removable bracket member 132, the wire guidemember 180, and the associated hardware (e.g., fastener 138 and threadedsleeve 142) can be provided as a kit for retrofitting an existingbicycle frame such that it can be configured in a mechanicalgear-shifting configuration and/or an electronic gear-shiftingconfiguration. For example, openings can be created (e.g., by drilling)in the down tube, seat tube, and respective ends of the seat stay tubeand the chain stay tube at the rear dropout of an existing bicycleframe, allowing the bicycle frame to be converted from a mechanicalgear-shifting system to an electronic gear-shifting system using thecomponents and methods described herein.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a representative method of converting abicycle frame from a mechanical gear-shifting configuration to anelectronic gear-shifting configuration. At block 202, a mechanical cableextending between a mechanical gear-shift actuator and a mechanical gearshifter via a cable stop of a removable bracket member secured to a downtube member of the bicycle frame can be removed.

At block 204, the removable bracket member can be removed from the downtube member of the bicycle frame.

At block 206, an electronically-actuated gear shifter can be mounted tothe bicycle frame in electrical communication with an electronicgear-shift actuator such that actuation of the electronic gear-shiftactuator causes the electronically-actuated gear shifter to shift gears.

General Considerations

For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures of the embodiments of this disclosure are described herein. Thedisclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed asbeing limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directedtoward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the variousdisclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations andsub-combinations with one another. The methods, apparatus, and systemsare not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combinationthereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or morespecific advantages be present or problems be solved.

Although the operations of some of the disclosed embodiments aredescribed in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation,it should be understood that this manner of description encompassesrearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specificlanguage set forth below. For example, operations described sequentiallymay in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, forthe sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the variousways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction withother methods. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like“provide” or “achieve” to describe the disclosed methods. These termsare high-level abstractions of the actual operations that are performed.The actual operations that correspond to these terms may vary dependingon the particular implementation and are readily discernible by one ofordinary skill in the art.

As used in this application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.”Further, the terms “coupled” and “associated” generally meanelectrically, electromagnetically, and/or physically (e.g., mechanicallyor chemically) coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence ofintermediate elements between the coupled or associated items absentspecific contrary language.

In some examples, values, procedures, or apparatus may be referred to as“lowest,” “best,” “minimum,” or the like. It will be appreciated thatsuch descriptions are intended to indicate that a selection among manyalternatives can be made, and such selections need not be better,smaller, or otherwise preferable to other selections.

In the following description, certain terms may be used such as “up,”“down,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “left,” “right,” andthe like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide someclarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. But,these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions,and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an “upper”surface can become a “lower” surface simply by turning the object over.Nevertheless, it is still the same object.

As used herein, the terms “integrally formed” and “unitary construction”refer to a construction that does not include any welds, fasteners, orother means for securing separately formed pieces of material to eachother.

Unless otherwise stated, the term “bicycle frame” includes componentssuch as handlebars, stem, front fork, etc., that are typically removablycoupled to the bicycle frame and not welded to, or otherwise integrallyformed with, the tube members of the bicycle frame.

Unless explained otherwise, all technical and scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinaryskill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present disclosure, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. The materials, methods, and examples areillustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Other features of thedisclosure are apparent from the following detailed description and theclaims.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thedisclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustratedembodiments are only preferred examples and should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the disclosure. Rather, the scope of thedisclosure is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly, comprising: a bicycle frameincluding a down tube member defining an opening therein; a mechanicalgear-shift actuator coupled to the frame; a mechanically-actuated gearshifter coupled to the frame; a removable bracket member including acurved main body defining an opening and including at least one cablestop, the at least one cable stop being circumferentially offset fromthe opening defined in the removable bracket member along the main bodyof the removable bracket member, the removable bracket member beingsecured to the down tube member by a fastener extending through theopening defined in the removable bracket member and into the down tubemember; and a mechanical cable extending between the mechanicalgear-shift actuator and the mechanically-actuated gear shifter via theat least one cable stop of the removable bracket member.
 2. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein the at least one cable stop comprises a tubularstructure coupled to the main body of the removable bracket member. 3.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one cable stop isintegrally formed with the main body of the removable bracket member. 4.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body of the removable bracketmember has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the down tubemember.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable bracket memberis secured to an underside of the down tube member.
 6. A bicycleincluding wheels coupled to the frame of the assembly of claim
 1. 7. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the main body of the removable bracketmember defines an apex, and the opening defined in the main body islocated at the apex.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the removablebracket member is secured to the down tube member such that the mainbody of the removable bracket member is perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the down tube member.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein thedown tube member defines an opening comprising threads to engage thefastener.
 10. An assembly, comprising: a bicycle frame including a downtube member defining an opening therein; a mechanical gear-shiftactuator coupled to the frame; a mechanically-actuated gear shiftercoupled to the frame; a removable bracket member including a curved mainbody defining an opening and including at least one cable stop, theremovable bracket member being secured to the down tube member by afastener extending through the opening defined in the removable bracketmember and into the down tube member; and a mechanical cable extendingbetween the mechanical gear-shift actuator and the mechanically-actuatedgear shifter via the at least one cable stop of the removable bracketmember; wherein the removable bracket member is secured to the down tubemember such that the main body of the removable bracket member isperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the down tube member.
 11. Anassembly, comprising: a bicycle frame including a down tube memberdefining an opening therein; a mechanical gear-shift actuator coupled tothe frame; a mechanically-actuated gear shifter coupled to the frame; aremovable bracket member including a curved main body defining anopening and including at least one cable stop, the removable bracketmember being secured to the down tube member by a fastener extendingthrough the opening defined in the removable bracket member and into thedown tube member; and a mechanical cable extending between themechanical gear-shift actuator and the mechanically-actuated gearshifter via the at least one cable stop of the removable bracket member;wherein the at least one cable stop is a first cable stop, and theremovable bracket member further comprises a second cable stop on theopposite side of the opening from the first cable stop.
 12. The assemblyof claim 11, wherein the first and second cable stops are located atrespective end portions of the main body of the removable bracketmember.
 13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the removable bracketmember is secured to the down tube member such that the main body of theremovable bracket member is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of thedown tube member.
 14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the down tubemember defines an opening comprising threads to engage the fastener. 15.An assembly, comprising: a bicycle frame including a down tube memberdefining an opening therein; a mechanical gear-shift actuator coupled tothe frame; a mechanically-actuated gear shifter coupled to the frame; aremovable bracket member including a curved main body defining anopening and including at least one cable stop, the removable bracketmember being secured to the down tube member by a fastener extendingthrough the opening defined in the removable bracket member and into thedown tube member; and a mechanical cable extending between themechanical gear-shift actuator and the mechanically-actuated gearshifter via the at least one cable stop of the removable bracket member;wherein the down tube member defines an opening comprising threads toengage the fastener.
 16. A method of converting a bicycle frame from amechanical gear-shifting configuration to an electronic gear-shiftingconfiguration, comprising: removing a mechanical cable extending betweena mechanical gear-shift actuator coupled to the bicycle frame and amechanically-actuated gear shifter coupled to the bicycle frame, themechanical cable extending between the mechanical gear-shift actuatorand the mechanically-actuated gear shifter via a cable stop of aremovable bracket member secured to a down tube member of the bicycleframe, the down tube member defining an opening therein, and theremovable bracket member being secured to the down tube member by afastener extending through an opening defined in a curved main body ofthe removable bracket member and into the opening of the down tubemember, the cable stop being circumferentially offset from the openingin the removable bracket member along the main body of the removablebracket member; removing the removable bracket member from the down tubemember of the bicycle frame; removing the mechanical gear-shift actuatorand the mechanically-actuated gear shifter from the bicycle frame; andmounting an electronically-actuated gear shifter to the bicycle frame inelectrical communication with an electronic gear-shift actuator suchthat actuation of the electronic gear-shift actuator causes theelectronically-actuated gear shifter to shift gears.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising routing at least a portion of an electricalwire internally of the bicycle frame between the electronic gear-shiftactuator and the electronically-actuated gear shifter.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein routing the electrical wire further comprisesinserting the electrical wire into the down tube member of the bicycleframe through the opening that is configured to receive the fastener forsecuring the removable bracket member to the down tube member.
 19. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the electronically-actuated gear shifter andthe electronic gear-shift actuator are in wireless electricalcommunication with one another.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein theat least one cable stop is a first cable stop, and the removable bracketmember further comprises a second cable stop on the opposite side of theopening from the first cable stop.